Pay For College

Always base your college choices on what is best for you - the colleges that will meet your academic and personal requirements. Click below to learn more about how the financial aid process works and discover what types of financial aid programs are available.

Once you’ve applied for admissions to the colleges you want to attend, you’ll want to apply for financial aid. Nearly 9 out of every 10 full-time undergraduate students attending New York’s independent (private) colleges receive financial help to meet college costs. Each year, New York’s private undergraduate colleges give more than $4.6 billion in grants to their students. Even if you don’t think you’ll be eligible apply!

• $232 million in New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) grants for NYS residents

• $476 million in Federal Pell Grants*

• Millions in other grant and work-study aid

*Data for 2013-14; NAICU (Pell); Data for 2012-13 NYS HESC (TAP).

Grants and Scholarships are funds you do not have to repay. They are available from colleges, your state, the federal government, professional and service organizations, private foundations and many employers. Some grants are based on your financial need while others are awarded for academic merit, a specific career goal, special talent or group affiliation.

Work-study Programs provide opportunities to earn money while you're in college by working part time on campus or in the community.

Loan Programs for college costs may be made to you and/or your parents. This aid must be repaid, usually with interest. Some loans are based on financial need. Federal education loan programs most often provide the lowest interest rates.